Yellowknife junior curler earns national scholarship, eyes nursing and northern fundraising
A Yellowknife athlete who began curling at four years old has been named one of six national recipients of the Spirit of Sandra scholarship, an award that helps young Canadian curlers with education and sporting expenses while supporting neonatal intensive care units across the country.
Ella Skauge said she learned she had won the scholarship the same day she celebrated her high school convocation. "I was so happy. It was such an emotional day," she said. The announcement comes in the 25th year the scholarships have been awarded and marks the second time a member of the Skauge family has received the honour; Ella's sister, Kali, was a recipient two years ago.
The Sandra Schmirler Foundation, which administers the awards in memory of the late Olympic champion, directs funds to both athlete support and health care projects. In the North, the foundation recently donated $64,000 to Stanton Territorial Hospital to assist with the purchase of two infant defibrillators.
Obligations and mentoring tied to the award
Recipients of the scholarship receive mentoring and must take part in fundraising for neonatal care. The foundation pairs students with experienced national curlers for mentorship and asks each cohort to organise a community fundraiser that collectively contributes $10,000 to a Canadian hospital's NICU.
- Number of scholarships awarded this year: six
- Mentors: Canadian curlers Lisa Weagle and Brett Gallant
- Recent Northern health donation: $64,000 to Stanton Territorial Hospital
| Scholarship detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Year scholarship established (current anniversary) | 25th |
| Collective fundraising target for NICU donation | $10,000 |
| Recent donation to Stanton Territorial Hospital | $64,000 |
For Skauge, the award will support dual aims: furthering her curling and supporting post-secondary study. She is heading to the University of Alberta's Augustana Campus this fall to prepare for a nursing program in Saskatchewan, and will join the Augustana Vikings curling team. She said that, after starting at four, the sport remains central to her plans but that she will step away from representing the Northwest Territories at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts while she completes her university and junior curling commitments.
"Any effort you put in, you’ll get back," she said, offering advice to other young curlers in the North.
Skauge also noted a regional focus for the fundraising she and another northern recipient hope to pursue. She said she and a scholarship recipient from the Yukon hope their fundraising will benefit a northern hospital.
The scholarship package links athletic development and community service with concrete benefits for neonatal units across Canada. Mentorship from high-profile curlers and the expectation of local fundraising aim to ensure recipients maintain ties to their communities while progressing in the sport.
For Yellowknife and the broader North, the award underscores the continued presence of home-grown talent in national curling circles and highlights the Sandra Schmirler Foundation's ongoing investments in regional health equipment, such as the recent support for infant defibrillators at Stanton Territorial Hospital.
Ella Skauge's selection continues a family pattern of national recognition and places two Skauge sisters in university curling programs this season. The combination of post-secondary plans in health care and active participation in competitive curling reflects a path that links community service, education and sport.
